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Weather

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It is mid 80s. Clear blue skies. Gentle breeze. Empty beaches here in Popoyo Nicaragua. Perfect weather to do anything or absolutely nothing

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I have discovered that I am not destined to ever surf. Tried and failed. if I stopped and thought about it beforehand, I would have realized that it is not something suitable for a guy with short arms,, a dislike of the open ocean, hurt rotator cuffs, and damaged neck that prevents him from looking up

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I rode a 9'6" longboard while living in Santa Cruz. I developed the ability to balance on the board while sitting down on my knees to paddle. That took care of many of the same issues you have as it doesn't bother your neck and doesn't put your shoulder in a vulnerable position while paddling.

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The second time I look a lesson, I was even older than the first time. Maybe the instructor took pity on me; he grabbed my board with his feet and towed me out. Several times. I got tired just lying on the board (and not falling off).

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well when you put it like that...

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big multi-day PNW storm starts today. Seattle might get some snow and it is supposed to get into the 20s by later this week.

i brought my skis out with me and hoping to ski for a day on Thu w/ a decent 30-50 inches of snow forecast for the next 3 days in the nearby mountains

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Rain in San Francisco.

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Chilly this a.m. in SB…up to 51 now.

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My car dash was displaying an outside temp of 33°F when I rolled into Moraga this morning

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Mid-twenties in my Tahoe-adjacent area. My good friend who is a counselor and runs an outdoor program at a local, middle school charter, departed this morning for two nights of snow wilderness with kids from his middle school class. Fortunate for them, they are staying in a warming hut stocked with fire wood. Low in Truckee last night was around 4 degrees, they will be camping about 2500' higher near Castle pass tonight and tomorrow night!

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No snow yet for DC. We had all day cold rain on Saturday and forecast is for more rain and high winds tomorrow. Possibly more rain again on Friday.

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Celebrity sighting(s)

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i played hoops w/ Tim Hardaway once but i didnt recognize him!

a bunch of us from Moraga and Cal would play hoops on Sat mornings back at our middle school. i got there a little early one morning to warm up when some guy in a Warriors track suit was walking his dog and asked if he could shoot a few. he proceeded to make about 20 3s in a row before saying thanks.

i asked him if he wanted to hang out and play some pickup ball w/ all my friends that were about to show up. after he left some middle school kid from the baseball fields comes and asks if that was Hardaway who i was just shooting around with.

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Being from Vegas, all mine occurred in Casinos. I saw Hulk Hogan at the showboat in the early Eighties; I saw Eazy-E and some other NWA dudes at Circus Circus in early Nineties; and I saw Tracy McGrady at the MGM in the early 0s. Oh, I also attended a wedding where Ben Bratt was in attendance, cousin to the bride.

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I saw Kerry Kittles outside of Planet Hollywood one time.

Back in the 90s I saw Reggie Miller sitting in economy class seats on the same plane and got his autograph.

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Cal memory: chanting Cheeeerrryylll at Reggie Miller with the implication that his sister was the better basketball player

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Joe Montana at the local mid-Peninsula Safeway, before he moved to a more exclusive neighborhood. San Francisco Giants players also lived in the area. I’d see them in the grocery store sometimes with kids in tow, looking like it was their turn to give mom a break! Jerry Rice driving on 101 in his black Mercedes with his FLASH80 plates. He smiled and waved at us.

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Vince D'Amato

Saw him in full Cal gear at our residential community gym after he graduated Cal.

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I was a valet when I was in college. Parked Denzel's car when he was in town. He stiffed me on the tip do I boycotted him for 7 years. Finally broke down cause he is one of my favorite actors but man, give the poor college kid a fiver, Holmes.

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Joe Montana, in the international arrivals terminal in LA circa 1983, Corbin Bernsen and Amanda Pays (at an Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians concert lol) circa 1989, Philip Roth maybe 2010-ish? on a sidewalk on the upper west side of Manhattan, when my younger daughter nearly took him out with a dog leash, she was "walking" her great aunt and uncle's dog.

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Amanda Pays was fantastic in Leviathan!

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I apparently missed Meg Ryan by 10 minutes at a Santa Barbara Trader Joe’s last week…two of the older cashiers were talking about her, while two others in their 20’s had no f-ing clue who she was. I’m a big fan, though honestly I may not have recognized her given the amount of work she is rumored to have had done in the past few years.

And Lazy Acres Natural Market up on the SB Mesa is a big spot…recently saw Catherine Oxenberg and celebrity chef Cat Cora in there while shopping.

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Jan 8·edited Jan 8

Many including seeing Richard Gere crossing a street in Manhattan, Danny Glover sitting outside a cafe in Oakland, Christy Turlington and her husband Edward Norton in the concourse at a Giants game and I used to regularly see DelRoy Lindo at the Berkeley YMCA.

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Lots, but the most random: pimp from Bunny Ranch and one of the star ladies at an In-N-Out in Auburn.

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Howie Mandel at a Red Robin somewhere in the San Fernando Valley in roughly the late-'80s/early '90s.

Robin Williams at Caesars Tahoe in the winter of '98

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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overall budget deal seems to have been hammered out in order to avoid a federal government shutdown, now the question is whether the house and senate can make it all happen.

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I realize this is mostly a self-interested update, but I'm all for the government staying open AND getting paid, so.

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Thank you for your government service.

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DBD AV CLUB

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Loudermilk, Netflix. S1 in the books…really enjoyed it.

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ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

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CAL

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Women's basketball gets first conference sweep in six years, beating the Washington schools at Haas over the weekend. Yesterday's win was a thriller over WSU by one point in OT. Cal is now 12-3 overall and 2-1 in conference. https://calbears.com/news/2024/1/7/womens-basketball-bears-conquer-the-cougars-in-ot-73-72.aspx

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Go Bears!!!

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In PGA golf, Cal alum get 4, T5, and T15. Not a bad week.

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DBD buried in the archive again. And this in 2024. Outrage. I'm writing my congressperson and I suggest you all do the same.

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This calls for nothing short of an impeachment inquiry of the WFC admins.

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It's on the front page for me

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Jan 8·edited Jan 8

DC Suggestions?

I am headed to DC at the end of this month. Will be there Tues through Sunday and linking up with a friend from Philly. Definitely will do some typical touristy stuff, but hoping DC Trojan or DC Blue can provide suggestions for music/nightlife for weekend nights. I am open to everything, from jazz club to EDM club, etc. Also, I am told I have to visit Bub and Pop's deli. The original owners are related to my father-in-law. Any other food suggestions that are pescatarian friendly?

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i was at this fun middle eastern bar last time i was in town ,Medina.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ah3Gn85gfhw8TwdA8

it is an offshoot of a well known Michelin star restaurant but still accessible w/o a reservation. food and drinks were superb.

also, Zeppelin was great vibe, fun cocktails, decent sushi

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XWeaYhQtFQ5ycWx7

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Both sound great! Thanks!

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I’m more of a classical music person but I know a couple who play jazz so I’ll see if they have any insight. I don’t have any food recommendations but Tom Siersema covers dining for the WaPo.

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I'm not that up to date with places to eat in the city (there are so many good immigrant joints in the burbs that it's easy to be lazy about going in), but I'm willing to try - do you know where you're staying?

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JW Marriot right near the Whitehouse. Thanks!

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